Chocolate de Batirol
June 16, 2007 by lisa
Filed under lifestyle & entertainment
If you thought Camp John Hay could not get greener, you haven’t tried CHOCO-LATE de Batirol yet. Tucked away in Scout Hill (Updated 11/2009, now in a new location near Igorot Garden) is a quaint garden-kitchen that affords each party privacy, relaxation and remembrance of good things past.
For this has always been Jojo Castro’s goal, since Chocolate de Batirol debuted as a small counter at the Philippine Treasures store in 1997 and evolved into a full-blown café at its present location. I would stop by for a steaming cup of thick chocolate and banana-langka turron every time I walked past their window, a welcome respite from all the hustle and bustle of downtown Session Road.
Driving around Baguio at 3:00 p.m. today, Nico and I could not decide whether we wanted a late lunch or merienda instead, so Chocolate de Batirol seemed the perfect choice. Happy to see our favorite ‘lechon paksiw’ on the menu, we knew we both wanted the same thing. So we opted for the viand version at php220 + php40 for 2 cups of rice. A solo set meal version is available at php160, by the way.
We chose the Kubo section to sit in because it was pretty and secluded although situated right in the middle of the restaurant. Playing quite lightly was a selection of songs from the Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band album.
This light late lunch left room for the perfect banana turron (php15.00) for dessert. I asked that the langka be excluded this time and they served it nice and hot. Because I had told the staff I was going to feature their restaurant on this site (if just to explain why I kept taking photos of the place and the food without an appointment), our server Arianne immediately sent Jonathan over with two demi-tasses of hot chocolate before I could order some, explaining, “With Sir Jojo, it’s not about the money – he wants all our customers to have a taste of our chocolate!”
She also sent over a small plate of their yummy home-made garlic peanuts for us to try. She explained that Jojo was busy in Metro Manila managing their newly-opened branch at the Serendra at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig.
Members of old Filipino families would refer to the classic thick Spanish chocolate made from Antonio Pueo or other ‘tableas’ (blocks of cocoa powder), milk and sugar as ‘chocolate de batidor,’ which refers to the constant use of the whisk in the pot to both melt and thicken it. Others call the whisk ‘molinillo’ but that word means mill, grinder or pinwheel. I could not find a translation of the word ‘batirol’ so I assume it is some Filipino derivative to pertain to either the wooden whisk or the pot itself. Jojo has expanded this favorite by offering different flavors, too – strawberry, cinnamon, almond and cointreau and kahlua.
Chocolate de Batirol is not just about merienda anymore but full meals and homemade take-out items, too. Their specialties include Beefsteak, Sisig, Pork Barbecue, and bottles of Chocolate Paste, Taba ng Talangka, Garlic Peanuts. Of course try their Suman sa Latik, Pansit Palabok or Bibingka while there.
Constantly evolving and expanding in size, you can choose to set yourselves down in the different areas that the Castro family has taken great care in developing: Galeria, which features a mural and two attractive hand-painted umbrellas at the outer rim, Republika, Arko and Kubo, where we sat.
I’ve been introduced to Jojo Casto numerous times, at Nevada Square when I had a restaurant there and he came fresh from a walk at the Camp John Hay EcoTrail, and during other social occasions. It is Nico, I believe, who sees him around more often wearing his trademark hat and long scarf. It’s a pity he wasn’t around today, but hearing that he is bringing this Baguio favorite to the lowlands is welcome news.
Chocolate de Batirol Umbrellas
Chocolate de Batirol is a highly recommended place to visit while in Camp John Hay. It is a place to relax, enjoy a good meal, and, in their own words, “(to take) part in our advocacy for the preservation of our culture and traditions by teaching our childen the value of preservation and conservation. For love of country and love of GOD.”
We just...
you took photo of the food! hehe ^_^
ps
i like your new lay-out.
Hi!
nice site about my hometown Baguio. Hope we could exchange links at http://www.cliffinthecity.com
Hi Lei,
Of course one has to take photo of the food when doing a feature of the restaurant! I wasn’t merely telling folks what I ate for lunch. Hahaha!
Hello Cliff,
Glad you like it. And your site is most welcome at the Blogroll: Baguio Connection.
Another place on my list to check out when I return.
I should do that too, you know. Say that I’m featuring their place on my blog, take pictures, act pseudo-professional, and wait for complementary foods to roll in. Haha, kiddding
Hi Shari,
The restaurants I will be featuring all know that I am coming. Some articles are in the works now. I order and pay for all my food & beverages, and they are free to showcase their specialties. By the time you get to the ‘extra’ items you’re too stuffed, or sometimes they are there for show and not to be consumed. And it would be rude to bring a large group with you when doing an feature. Just 2 persons max.
It was just that C de B was so picturesque that I felt like taking photos. It was when I decided to take the food shots I got a little ‘defensive’ and had to explain. You see, some restaurants are not very happy when folks take photos of their products because you might be a competitor! If Jojo were there, even an ambush interview, I believe, would’ve been fine because he knows I belong to the industry and am not there to hurt his business.
Hi Lisa! Love your new theme
What can I say but: now I miss Baguio again… So C de B i coming here, but it’s not quite the same as sipping the thick chocolate in Baguio’s fresh, cool weather.
The lechon paksiw looks so sinful! It’s 12am and my (deprived) tummy is growling haha
Hi Lisa,
Great layout! Will it be a monthly thing? ….. Looking like a PRO(professional site) now. Good pictures you and Nico Cawed have posted. Hmmm love your featured restaurant… will definitely try it. That reminds me to ask my brother if he still has our 19copong copong pot/batirol from our defunct restaurant. Catch you in the net.
nice site… taga baguio karin pala..
nice site… i’m from baguio too..
Hi! what a great site lisa.. I wish you all the best for your site!!
>> joseph lansang? lansangs of manila cafe in abanao?
I was able to buy bibingka from this place. It was good. We just had a very heavy lunch when we dropped by after going to see the “New” Scouthill. Next time, I’ll try the other things they have to offer.
Hi Chateau and, yup, there’s nothing like dining al fresco in Baguio!
Yes Joe, I’ve been planning lots of features on Baguio stores and the folks here. Just got uber busy during the high season. But now that tourists are back to work and school, I will have more time. It happens that I started this site during the peak visitor season.
Hi Rhodyl and thanks for dropping by. If you want to be included in the Baguio Connection blogroll, just link up this site.
Hello GG. Glad you like this site. And yes, the same Lansangs of Manila Cafe but he’s a retired golfer in Poughkeepsie now. You can visit him here: http://joelan64.blogspot.com
Hi Tina. I love that Jojo has institutionalized the Filipino traditional merienda items, which of course, take a lot of time and care to produce, especially the bibingka and the chocolate. It’s also a nice place to relax and hang out in.
i’ve been to baguio a lot of times but i have not really explored camp john hay (makes me think if i’ve really been to camp john hay hehehe).
when we go back there in september, we’ll definitely do Chocolate de Batirol! and all other “off-the-beaten-track” baguio sites, any suggestions?
Hi Lisa…are you the one who used to ride a big black horse around town? In any case..great job on writing about Baguio. Your website is cool. I could use a home link in every page though…i get stuck in some pages…like this one.
Keep it up.
Mike
hi zherwin,
oh, camp john hay was ‘little america baguio’, the most romantic philippine honeymoon venue before it’s redesign to an exclusive golfer’s haven. it’s still a beautiful place to explore on foot. for complete info on baguio city , please visit http://www.gobaguio.com
hi mike,
yup, that was me from 1994 to 1997. that lovely stallion of mine bears the distinction of being the only horse to have gone up and down sheridan drive in camp john hay when i used to have catering jobs for halfway house (we were concessionaires from 1991-1997) at scout hill with a western barbecue theme.
thanks for the suggestion of a link. been trying to insert a previous post-home-next page navigation on single posts but can’t find the code. so i inserted a link to the home page on the side bar.
thanks
i’ve been to this place and masarap yung choco nila pati na yung bibingka. it was really a perfect pair for a merienda during a cold afternoon.
Thanks for the photos & the information. I’ve heard about it but haven’t been there. My husband had a taste of chocolate de batirol few months back and loved it so much. He had the chance to talk to the owner and was impressed on how the family operates based on their great faith in God, and as a result, the blessings overflow. I haven’t had a taste of it yet but I’m convinced that it really has a ‘heavenly taste’.. and guess what.? I recommended Chocolate de batirole for a franchise to a friend, and now, it’s a done deal .. a new branch will open in Baloy beach, Olongapo City very soon..another step of faith from a new franchisee who believes in the same God the Castros serve!
Hi,
Great site. Recent Baguio trips were always rush overnighters and recently had an oppty to stay a weekend. So your web site was timely and certainly informative.
Checked out Chocolate de Batirol. Good chocolate and turon. But service was a bit slow, despite not having too many patrons that afternoon.
Hope you don’t mind, but linked your article to mine.
Thanks and keep on blogging!
try to eat at Vizcos restaurant and cake shop i’m sure you’ll love the foods there especially their pastas and their strawberry cake. i hope you can add in on your lists of restaurant here in baguio. thanks!
funny story i first went to chocolate de batirol with my riding buddies haruroot we accidentally chance upon it while roaming camp john hay looks so inviting so we had our merienda. last year i was bragging about it to my girlfriend florence so we went there on a cold february weekend to sip its famous chocolate unfortunately it was night time and i could not find the place finally after asking at the security office we located the place but it was already closed. anyway feb 2008 looks promising so chocolate de batirol we wont miss you again
i was in baguio city last january 8, 2008. we went to camp jahn hay right after we climbed the lourdes grotto. Chocolate de Batirol was a really a treat. we spent an hour in there. enjoying the chocolate drinks we ordered. i should say, try the their strawberry fields. it was really good.
next time im in baguio… i would definitely have to have my chocolate de batirol.
Wow, I think I’ll gain weight when I go there next month.
I’ll definitely try that “Choco-Late de Batirol.”
Thanks again for your site Lisa.
Do you know Mark Castro? haha. he’s my tito.
I was in Bagui this May 2009 during a strong typhoon. I was with foreign friends and decided to try Batirol but upon reaching John Hay, the place is demolished. So we decided to go somewhere else. Did you transfer to other location? Do let me know. I will be in Baguio again with Russians and Italian friends who want to try a different menu.
Hi Jun,
Chocolate de Batirol is reopening soon, still within Camp John Hay, but this time closer to the 2nd gate (the CJH access via Country Club Road).
hi..i enjoyed reading this site..really! i really like Baguio since i was studying, and now my family is planning to visit the place again after quite a long time…i have enlisted some restaurants i have found in this web site and would like to ask for suggestion on where to find a nice spa or where to find a good massage…by the way, is chocolate de batirol re-opens already? thanks a lot..
Hi Lisa,
We’ll be visiting the philippines soon and dropping to check out how’s baguio. you certainly helped us a lot where to have some good and real pinoy food. looking forward for this chocolate de batirol.thanks and good luck!
i love the place, ambience, food and especially the hot chocolate!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anggebarcelona/3787137051/
http://fotoexposure.multiply.com/photos/album/129/Choco-Late_de_Batirols
here’s some photos taken in Choco-Late’ de Batirols in camp john hay. Thanks to Mr. Jojo Castro for allowing us to take pictures of some of their equipments and for the free hot chocolates.
your article is very informative,,, anyway thanks.. you featured one of the young entrepreneurs in baguio which our class will feature it.. jejeje… its a project though…